U.S. patent number 10,266,096 [Application Number 15/193,159] was granted by the patent office on 2019-04-23 for recreational vehicle with deck.
This patent grant is currently assigned to JAYCO, INC.. The grantee listed for this patent is Highland Ridge RV, Inc.. Invention is credited to Randall L. Graber, Jason T. Martin.
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United States Patent |
10,266,096 |
Graber , et al. |
April 23, 2019 |
Recreational vehicle with deck
Abstract
A recreational vehicle with a deck includes an enclosure
structure for selectively enclosing all or a portion of the deck.
Components of the enclosure structure can be used as a ramp for
loading and unloading items from the deck.
Inventors: |
Graber; Randall L. (Elkhart,
IN), Martin; Jason T. (Elkhart, IN) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Highland Ridge RV, Inc. |
Middlebury |
IN |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
JAYCO, INC. (Middlebury,
IN)
|
Family
ID: |
66174901 |
Appl.
No.: |
15/193,159 |
Filed: |
June 27, 2016 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
|
62185133 |
Jun 26, 2015 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60P
3/32 (20130101); B60P 1/435 (20130101); B60P
3/06 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B60P
1/43 (20060101); B60P 3/32 (20060101); B60P
3/06 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;296/158 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Romain; Pinel E
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Fountain; Ryan M.
Claims
The invention claimed is:
1. A recreational vehicle having at least two walls for defining an
interior space and a deck for supporting items exterior to the
interior space of the recreational vehicle, including: a support
structure having a first side support member having a first end
adjacent a wall of the recreational vehicle and a second end, a
second side support member having a first end adjacent a wall of
the recreational vehicle and a second end, a first front support
member having a first end connected to the second end of the first
side support member and a second end, the first front support
member extending at an angle from the first side support member and
a second front support member having a first end connected to the
second end of the second side support member and a second end
connected to the second end of the first front support member, the
second front support member extending at an angle to the second
side support member; a deck surface connected to the first side
support member, the second side support member, the first front
support member and the second front support member; a first
connection member connected to the first side support member; a
second connection member connected to the first side support
member; a third connection member connected to the second side
support member; a fourth connection member connected to the second
side support member; a first side enclosure member removably
connectable to the first and second connection members; a second
side enclosure member removably connectable to the third and fourth
connection members; an enclosure support member having a first
section having a first end removably connectable to the support
structure adjacent the second ends of the first front support
member and the second front support member and a second end, a
first arm extending generally perpendicular to the first section
between the first and second ends and a second arm extending
generally perpendicular to the first section adjacent the second
end; a first front enclosure member removably connectable to the
first side enclosure member and the enclosure support member; a
second front enclosure member removably connectable to the second
side enclosure member and the enclosure support member; wherein the
first side enclosure member, second side enclosure member, first
front enclosure member and second front enclosure member can be
connected to the deck support structure so as to fully or partially
enclose the deck surface, and wherein the first side enclosure
member and the second side enclosure member are positionable on the
support structure so as to form a ramp for loading and unloading
items from the deck surface.
2. The recreational vehicle of claim 1, wherein the second end of
the first side enclosure member nests within the first end of the
first front enclosure member when the first side enclosure member
and first front enclosure member are connected to the support
structure to at least partially enclose the deck surface.
3. The recreational vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first side
enclosure member nests within the first connection member when the
first side enclosure member is connected to the support structure
to at least partially enclose the deck surface.
4. The recreational vehicle of claim 1, wherein the enclosure
support member nests within the first front enclosure member when
the first front enclosure member is connected to the support
structure to at least partially enclose the deck surface.
5. The recreational vehicle of claim 4, wherein the first arm of
the enclosure support member nests within the first front enclosure
member when the first front enclosure member is connected to the
support structure to at least partially enclose the deck
surface.
6. The recreational vehicle of claim 5, wherein the second arm of
the enclosure support member nests within the first front enclosure
member when the first front enclosure member is connected to the
support structure to at least partially enclose the deck
surface.
7. The recreational vehicle of claim 4, wherein a portion of the
enclosure support member nests within the second front enclosure
member when the first front enclosure member and the second front
enclosure member are connected to the support structure to at least
partially enclose the deck surface.
8. The recreational vehicle of claim 1, further including an
opening in the support structure adjacent the second end of the
first front support member and the second end of the second front
support member, the opening configured to receive the first end of
the enclosure support member.
9. The recreational vehicle of claim 1, further including a first
support member connected to the first end of the first side
enclosure member, a second support member connected to the first
end of the second side enclosure member and wherein the first and
second support members are configured to support the first side
enclosure member and the second side enclosure member on the
support structure when the first side enclosure member and the
second side enclosure member are positioned on the support
structure to form a ramp.
10. The recreational vehicle of claim 9, wherein the first support
member is disposed at an angle to the first side enclosure member
and the second support member is disposed at an angle to the second
side enclosure member.
11. The recreational vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first side
support member, second side support member, first front support
member and second front support member form a first generally
rectangular area and a second generally triangular area.
12. The recreational vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first side
support member, second side support member, first front support
member and second front support member form a first generally
square area and a second generally triangular area.
13. A recreational vehicle, including: a deck, the deck having a
first area having a first side and a second side and a second
generally triangular area having a first side and a second side; an
enclosure structure having a first enclosure member removably
connectable to the deck so as to extend along the first side of the
first area of the deck, a second enclosure member removably
connectable to the deck so as to extend along the second side of
the first area of the deck, a third enclosure member removably
connectable to the deck so as to extend along the first side of the
triangular area of the deck and a fourth enclosure member removably
connectable to the deck so as to extend along the second side of
the triangular area of the deck, the first enclosure member being
removably connectable to the third enclosure member and the second
enclosure member being removably connectable to the fourth
enclosure member; a support member removably connectable to the
deck, the support member having a first section extending generally
perpendicular to the deck when the support member is connected to
the deck, the first section having a first end and a second end, a
first arm adjacent the first end of the first section and extending
generally perpendicular to the first section and a second arm
located between the first and second ends of the first section and
extending generally perpendicular to the first section; and wherein
the third enclosure member is removably connectable to the first
and second arms of the support member and the fourth enclosure
member is removably connectable to the first and second arms of the
support member.
14. The recreational vehicle according to claim 13, further
including a first member connected to the first enclosure member
and a second member connected to the second enclosure member, the
first and second members configured to support the first enclosure
member and the second enclosure member on the deck to form a ramp
for loading and unloading items from the deck.
15. The recreational vehicle of claim 13, wherein the first
enclosure member nests within the third enclosure member when the
first enclosure member and third enclosure member are connected to
the deck.
16. The recreational vehicle of claim 13, wherein the first and
second arms of the support member nest within the third enclosure
member when the third enclosure member is connected to the support
member.
17. The recreational vehicle of claim 13, further including an
opening adjacent the first and second sides of the triangular area
of the deck, the opening configured to receive one end of the first
section of the support member.
18. The recreational vehicle of claim 13, further including means
for removably connecting the first enclosure member to the
deck.
19. The recreational vehicle of claim 18, wherein the means for
removably connecting the first enclosure member to the deck
includes a bracket and a pin.
20. The recreational vehicle of claim 13, further including means
for connecting the first enclosure member to the third enclosure
member.
21. The recreational vehicle of claim 20, wherein the means for
connecting the first enclosure member to the third enclosure member
includes a pin.
Description
The present invention relates to recreational vehicles and, more
particularly, to a recreational vehicle with a deck on which
motorcycles, ATVs and/or other objects may be stored and
transported.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one embodiment of the present invention, a recreational vehicle
has at least two walls for defining an interior space and a deck
for supporting items exterior to the interior space of the
recreational vehicle. The recreational vehicle further includes a
support structure having a first side support member having a first
end adjacent a wall of the recreational vehicle and a second end, a
second side support member having a first end adjacent a wall of
the recreational vehicle and a second end, a first front support
member having a first end connected to the second end of the first
side support member and a second end, the first front support
member extending at an angle from the first side support member and
a second front support member having a first end connected to the
second end of the second side support member and a second end
connected to the second end of the first front support member, the
second front support member extending at an angle to the second
side support member. A deck surface is connected to the first and
second side support members and to the first and second front
support members. First and second connection members are connected
to the first side support member and second and third connection
members are connected to the second side support member. A first
side enclosure member is removably connectable to the first and
second connection members and a second side enclosure member is
removably connectable to the third and fourth connection members.
The recreational vehicle further includes a support member having a
first section having a first end removably connectable to the
support structure adjacent the second ends of the first front
support member and the second front support member and a second
end. A first arm extends generally perpendicular to the first
section between the first and second ends and a second arm extends
generally perpendicular to the first section adjacent the second
end. A first front enclosure member is removably connectable to the
first side enclosure member and the enclosure support member. A
second front enclosure member is removably connectable to the
second side enclosure member and the enclosure support member. The
first and second side enclosure members and the first and second
front enclosure members can be connected to the deck support
structure so as to fully or partially enclose the deck surface. The
first and second side enclosure members are positionable on the
support structure so as to form a ramp for loading and unloading
items from the deck surface.
In one embodiment of the invention, the second end of the first
side enclosure member nests within the first end of the first front
enclosure member when the first side enclosure member and first
front enclosure member are connected to the support structure to at
least partially enclose the deck surface.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the first side
enclosure member nests within the first connection member when the
first side enclosure member is connected to the support structure
to at least partially enclose the deck surface.
In another embodiment, the enclosure support member nests within
the first front enclosure member when the first front enclosure
member is connected to the support structure to at least partially
enclose the deck surface. The first arm of the enclosure support
member can nest within the first front enclosure member when the
first front enclosure member is connected to the support structure
to at least partially enclose the deck surface. The second arm of
the enclosure support member can also nest within the first front
enclosure member when the first front enclosure member is connected
to the support structure to at least partially enclose the deck
surface.
In another embodiment of the present invention, a portion of the
enclosure support member nests within the second front enclosure
member when the first front enclosure member and the second front
enclosure member are connected to the support structure to at least
partially enclose the deck surface.
In one embodiment of the invention, the recreational vehicle
further includes an opening in the support structure adjacent the
second end of the first front support member and the second end of
the second front support member. The opening is configured to
receive the first end of the enclosure support member.
In another embodiment of the invention, the recreational vehicle
further includes a first support member connected to the first end
of the first side enclosure member and a second support member
connected to the first end of the second side enclosure member. The
first and second support members are configured to support the
first side enclosure member and the second side enclosure member on
the support structure when the first side enclosure member and the
second side enclosure member are positioned on the support
structure to form a ramp. The first and second support members may
be disposed at an angle to the first and second side enclosure
members, respectively.
In other embodiments of the present invention, the first side
support member, second side support member, first front support
member and second front support member form a first generally
rectangular or square area and a second generally triangular
area.
A recreational vehicle according to another embodiment of the
present invention includes a deck, an enclosure structure and a
support member. The deck has a first area having a first side and a
second side and a second generally triangular area having a first
side and a second side. The enclosure structure has a first
enclosure member removably connectable to the deck so as to extend
along the first side of the first area of the deck, a second
enclosure member removably connectable to the deck so as to extend
along the second side of the first area of the deck, a third
enclosure member removably connectable to the deck so as to extend
along the first side of the triangular area of the deck and a
fourth enclosure member removably connectable to the deck so as to
extend along the second side of the triangular area of the deck.
The first enclosure member is removably connectable to the third
enclosure member and the second enclosure member is removably
connectable to the fourth enclosure member. The support member is
removably connectable to the deck and has a first section extending
generally perpendicular to the deck when the support member is
connected to the deck. The first section has a first end and a
second end. A first arm is located adjacent the first end of the
first section and extends generally perpendicular to the first
section. A second arm is located between the first and second ends
of the first section and extends generally perpendicular to the
first section. The third enclosure member is removably connectable
to the first and second arms of the support member and the fourth
enclosure member is removably connectable to the first and second
arms of the support member.
In another embodiment of the present invention, a first member is
connected to the first enclosure member and a second member is
connected to the second enclosure member. The first and second
members are configured to support the first and second enclosure
members on the deck to form a ramp for loading and unloading items
from the deck.
According to another embodiment of the invention, the first
enclosure member nests within the third enclosure member when the
first enclosure member and third enclosure member are connected to
the deck. In another embodiment, the first and second arms of the
support member nest within the third enclosure member when the
third enclosure member is connected to the support member.
In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the
recreational vehicle further includes an opening adjacent the first
and second sides of the triangular area of the deck. The opening is
configured to receive one end of the first section of the support
member.
Another embodiment of the invention includes means for removably
connecting the first enclosure member to the deck. The means may
include a bracket and a pin.
Another embodiment includes means for connecting the first
enclosure member to the third enclosure member. The means may
include a pin.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a recreational vehicle with deck
according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the recreational vehicle shown
in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a portion of the deck shown in FIG.
1.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a support member that is a
component of the deck shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the support member shown in FIG. 4
secured to the deck shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a portion of the deck shown in FIG.
1.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a portion of the deck shown in FIG.
1.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a portion of the deck shown in FIG.
1.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the recreational vehicle shown in
FIG. 1 with certain components of the deck removed and positioned
so as to form a ramp structure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
Referring to FIGS. 1-3 a recreational vehicle 10 according to the
present invention generally includes a deck structure 20. Deck
structure 20 generally includes a support structure 30, a deck
surface 40 and an enclosure 50.
In the embodiment shown, support structure 30 generally includes a
first side section 32, a second side section 34, a first front
section 36 extending from one end of first side section 32 and a
second front section 38 extending from one end of second side
section 34 and connecting at its opposite end to an end of first
front section 36. An opening 39 is located near the intersection of
first front section 36 and second front section 38.
In the embodiment shown, support structure 30 and deck surface 40
extend from recreational vehicle 10 toward vehicle hitch 12 so as
to form a generally square or rectangular area 42 and a generally
triangular area 44.
In the embodiment shown, enclosure 50 generally includes a first
side member 51, a second side member 52, a first front member 53
and a second front member 54. First side member 51, second side
member 52, first front member 53 and second front member 54 are
removably secured to support structure 30, as described in greater
detail below.
In the embodiment shown, first side member 51 generally includes a
first or upper member 51A and a second or lower member 51B joined
together by a plurality of bars or connecting members 51C. Upper
member 51A and lower member 51B are generally C-shaped channels.
First side member 51 has a first end 51D adjacent recreational
vehicle 10 and a second end 51E. First end 51D includes a support
member 51F. In the embodiment shown, support member 51F is a metal
plate that bends inward toward the center of deck structure 20 when
first side member 51 is secured to support structure 30 as shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2.
Second side member 52 generally includes a first or upper member
52A and a second or lower member 52B joined together by a plurality
of bars or connecting members 52C. Upper member 52A and lower
member 52B are generally C-shaped channels. Second side member 52
has a first end 52D adjacent recreational vehicle 10 and a second
end 52E. First end 52D includes a support member 52F.
First front member 53 generally includes a first or upper member
53A and a second or lower member 53B joined together by a plurality
of bars or connecting members 53C. Upper member 53A and lower
member 53B are generally C-shaped channels. First front member 53
has a first end 53D and a second end 53E. First end 53D is located
adjacent second end 51E of first side member 51 when first side
member 51 and first front member 53 are secured to support
structure 30 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
Second front member 54 generally includes a first or upper member
54A and a second or lower member 54B joined together by a plurality
of bars or connecting members 54C. Upper member 54A and lower
member 54B are generally C-shaped channels. Second front member 54
has a first end 54D and a second end 54E. First end 54D is located
adjacent second end 52E of second side member 52 when second side
member 52 and second front member 54 are secured to support
structure 30 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
Enclosure 50 further includes a front support member 60. In the
embodiment shown, support member 60 generally includes a central or
body section 61 having a first end 62 and a second end 63. A first
generally perpendicularly extending arm 64 is located at or near
second end 63. A second generally perpendicularly extending arm 65
is located between first end 62 and second end 63 along central
section 61. In the embodiment shown, support member 60 is
constructed from tubular steel having a generally square
cross-section. A plurality of openings 66 extend through arms 64
and 65. A plurality of openings 67 extend through central section
61 between first end 62 and second arm 65. As shown in FIGS. 1, 2
and 5, first end 62 of support member 60 extends into opening 39 in
support structure 30 and may be secured in place by inserting a pin
or other structure through one or more of openings 67 below support
structure 30. Second arm 65 rests on or is located near the upper
surface of support structure 30 when support member 60 is engaged
in opening 39.
Referring to FIG. 6, a first bracket or connection structure 70 is
connected to second side member 34 of support structure 30 near
recreational vehicle 10. In the embodiment shown, connection member
70 is a bracket having a pair of spaced-apart sides or ears with
openings extending therethrough. First end 52D of second side
member 52 sits between the sides or ears of connection member 70
and is secured thereto by inserting a pin-and-latch member 80
through the openings in the sides or ears and through openings 52G
in lower member 52B for second side member 52. Note that openings
52G are also formed in upper member 52A of second side member 52
adjacent first end 52D. First end 51D of first side member 51 is
secured to first side member 32 of support structure 30 in the same
manner. Note that because openings 52G and 51G are located in
members 51A, 51B, 52A and 52B, first side member 51 and second side
member 52 are interchangeable and may be installed on either side
of the support structure 30.
As shown in FIG. 7, at second end 52E of second side member 52,
lower member 52B nests within lower member 54B of second front
member 54 and is secured thereto by inserting a pin and latch
member 80 through openings in members 52B and 54B. A connection
structure 70 is located on second side member 34 of support
structure 30 near end 52E of second side member 52 to permit second
end 52E to be secured in place by inserting a pin and latch member
80 (not shown) therethrough. Lower member 51B of first side member
51 is secured to first side member 32 of support structure 30 and
to lower member 53B of first front member 53 in the same manner as
described above for second side member 52.
As also shown in FIG. 8, at second end 51E of first side member 51,
upper member 51A nests within upper member 53A of first front
member 53 and is secured thereto by inserting a pin and latch
member 80 through openings in members 51A and 53A. Upper member 52A
of second side member 52 is secured to upper member 54A of second
front member 54 in the same manner as described above for first
side member 51.
In a similar manner, first arm 64 and second arm 65 of support
member 60 nest within upper members 53A and 54A and lower members
53B and 54B of first front member 53 and second front member 54 and
are secured by inserting pin and latch members 80 through openings
in those members and through openings 66 in arms 64 and 65.
First side member 51, second side member 52, first front member 53
and second front member 54 may be removed from support structure 30
by removing pin and latch members 80 and disengaging the members
from support member 60, connection members 70 and from each other.
Support member 60 may be removed from support structure 30 by
removing the pins or other securing mechanisms located below
support structure 30 and removing support structure 60 from opening
39. First side member 51 and second side member 52 can then be
positioned along, for example, second front member 38 of support
structure 30 such that support members 51F and 52F rest on support
structure 30, thereby forming a ramp for loading, for example,
ATV's or other wheeled vehicles. First side member 51, second side
member 52, first front member 53 and second front member 54 may
then be reattached to support structure 30 to enclose deck surface
40.
Although the present invention has been shown and described in
detail, the same is to be taken by way of illustration only and not
by way of limitation. Numerous modifications can be made to the
embodiments disclosed without departing from the scope of the
invention. For example, securement mechanisms other than pin and
latch members 80 may be utilized. The nesting portions of members
51, 52, 53 and 54 and support structure 60 can also have different
configurations that will permit them to be removably secured to
each other. Connection members 70 may also take various
configurations. Other modifications are also possible.
* * * * *